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Cost of Living Calculator

Compare cost of living between US states — housing, groceries, transportation, and more.

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Estimated spending breakdown on a $75,000 salary in California

Housing$49,352
Groceries$10,657
Utilities$7,376
Transportation$16,416
Healthcare$6,252
Dining & Misc$8,745

Estimated annual spending: $98,798($23,798 over budget)

Housing: $49,352 (65.8%)Groceries: $10,657 (14.2%)Utilities: $7,376 (9.8%)Transportation: $16,416 (21.9%)Healthcare: $6,252 (8.3%)Dining & Misc: $8,745 (11.7%)Savings: $9,750 (13.0%)Purchasing power$52,411national equiv.

Your $75,000 in California is worth

$52,411

in national-average purchasing power

43% above national average
California143.1

National average = 100

Category breakdown

Index values relative to national average (100)

Housing199.4
Groceries109.3
Utilities140.5
Transportation136.8
Healthcare104.2
Dining & Misc116.6

What things cost

CaliforniaUS avg
Median home$785,000$360,000
2BR rent$2,792/mo$1,400/mo
Gas$5.29/gal$3.50/gal
Electric bill$240/mo$137/mo
Infant childcare$21,945/yr$13,500/yr

Popular comparisons

California vs Texas 57% cheaper in Texas New York vs Florida 24% cheaper in Florida California vs Washington 27% cheaper in Washington Illinois vs Tennessee 5% cheaper in Tennessee Colorado vs Arizona 7% cheaper in Colorado Massachusetts vs North Carolina 52% cheaper in North Carolina New York vs North Carolina 28% cheaper in North Carolina Hawaii vs Texas 102% cheaper in Texas
Compare any two states

Cost of living by state

Alabama 88 Alaska 127 Arizona 110 Arkansas 90 California 143 Colorado 103 Connecticut 114 Delaware 103 District of Columbia 138 Florida 101 Georgia 92 Hawaii 184 Idaho 99 Illinois 95 Indiana 91 Iowa 90 Kansas 88 Kentucky 92 Louisiana 93 Maine 114 Maryland 117 Massachusetts 149 Michigan 92 Minnesota 94 Mississippi 86 Missouri 89 Montana 97 Nebraska 92 Nevada 100 New Hampshire 111 New Jersey 115 New Mexico 94 New York 126 North Carolina 98 North Dakota 91 Ohio 95 Oklahoma 85 Oregon 113 Pennsylvania 97 Rhode Island 111 South Carolina 93 South Dakota 92 Tennessee 90 Texas 91 Utah 100 Vermont 114 Virginia 102 Washington 113 West Virginia 88 Wisconsin 99 Wyoming 95

Index values relative to national average (100). Red = above average, green = below average.

Popular metro areas

New York City 187 San Francisco 180 Los Angeles 167 Boston 162 San Diego 160 Washington, DC 152 Seattle 149 Portland 131 Miami 123 Denver 119 Philadelphia 113 Chicago 107 Atlanta 105 Minneapolis 105 Phoenix 104 Austin 104 Nashville 102 Tampa 99 Dallas 98 Houston 97

How it works

This calculator uses the MERIC/C2ER Cost of Living Index (2025), which scores each state across six categories relative to a national average of 100. We supplement the indices with real dollar amounts from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey, AAA gas prices, EIA electricity rates, Child Care Aware childcare costs, and Zillow rental data.

When you compare two states, we show both the index difference (percentage above or below average) and actual dollar amounts for specific items like rent, gas, and electricity. This gives you a concrete picture of what the cost difference means in your daily life.

Example: California vs Texas

California's overall cost of living index is ~138 vs Texas at ~92 — a 50% difference. Here's what that means in dollars:

  • Avg 2BR rent: $2,200/mo in CA vs $1,250/mo in TX (−$950/mo)
  • Gas: $4.50/gal in CA vs $2.85/gal in TX (−$1.65/gal)
  • Electricity: $170/mo in CA vs $145/mo in TX
  • Infant childcare: $16,945/yr in CA vs $10,765/yr in TX

A $100,000 salary in Texas has roughly the same purchasing power as $150,000 in California, before even considering the state income tax difference (0% in TX vs up to 13.3% in CA).

When to use this

Comparing job offers: A higher salary in a more expensive city may leave you with less spending power. Compare cost of living alongside take-home pay.

Planning a move: Understand how your current budget translates to a new state — will you spend more or less on housing, groceries, and gas?

Remote work decisions: If your salary stays the same, moving to a lower cost-of-living state is effectively a raise.

FAQ

How is cost of living measured?

Cost of living uses composite indices from the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER/MERIC), where 100 = national average. A state at 120 in housing means housing costs are 20% above average.

What is the most expensive state?

Hawaii (index ~186), followed by California, Massachusetts, New York, and Oregon. Housing is the primary driver.

What is the cheapest state?

Mississippi (index ~84), followed by Oklahoma, Kansas, Alabama, and West Virginia.

How does cost of living affect my salary?

A $100k salary in Mississippi has roughly the purchasing power of $186k in Hawaii. Always adjust for cost of living when comparing offers. Use our Compare Job Offers tool for a detailed analysis.

Related tools

Based on MERIC/C2ER 2025 indices and BLS data. Individual costs vary by city, neighborhood, and lifestyle. Use as a general guide, not a precise budget.